The 3 Differences Between A Nervous Child And A Hyperactive Child
Many parents wonder if their son or daughter is hyperactive because they see that he or she can’t sit still, doesn’t pay attention, and gets angry easily. Myths about what ADHD is have proliferated in recent decades, causing it to go from underdiagnosis to overdiagnosis.
Are all nervous children hyperactive? In reality, ADHD involves much more than just being a nervous person. It is a disorder of neurological origin that manifests itself in the form of severe attention, sleep and school problems.
Next we are going to understand what the main differences are between a nervous child and a hyperactive child also looking at some of the main characteristics of ADHD.
Distinguishing between a nervous child and a hyperactive child
In recent years, many parents have begun to go to child psychologists concerned about the possibility that their child could suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). Many of these visits are motivated by the myths that continue to circulate about what ADHD is, in addition to the fact that many teachers, when they see that one of their students seems to be too active and has difficulty concentrating, consider the possibility that he or she has this disorder and tell your parents.
The number of children diagnosed with hyperactivity has increased in recent years The reason for this is that there is now greater sensitivity about ADHD, the importance of an early diagnosis because, if it is too late or not received, it can imply serious difficulties in the life of the affected person. Children with ADHD benefit from the diagnosis as it is followed by treatment that will provide them with the appropriate tools to cope with their disorder and improve their lives in the educational, social and personal spheres.
However, this increased awareness has also had a negative consequence. In the last 25 years, there has been a shift from underdiagnosis to overdiagnosis, causing many boys and girls to be classified in a category that does not correspond to them. In these cases, they are not children with a neurobiological problem, but rather they are most likely just very nervous little ones, something that is part of their personality and that ADHD medication is not going to “solve.”
Every father and mother should know that Children, by nature, are restless, little people full of energy who do not sit still It is his need, so in principle we should not worry that our son or daughter does not stand still. In fact, it is something to be expected depending on what age. For example, if it is a 2-year-old who does not stop talking, that is totally normal because he has just acquired that skill and is putting it into practice, surprised by his new ability.
If he is between 4 or 5 years old and does not stop running and jumping, it is also normal Again, the reason he behaves this way is because he is acquiring a new skill, in this case greater motor control. When learning to walk and achieving motor independence, children know how to get a lot out of it by grabbing everything, running, jumping, investigating their environment, discovering their world. This is why it is essential to teach them where they can and cannot release their energies, teaching them when their behavior is appropriate and setting rules and limits to encourage self-control.
Some adults expect too much from children, so they may confuse the energy and activity level characteristic of childhood with ADHD. It is normal for little ones to be so restless, and there is a neurobiological explanation for this: the prefrontal cortex
Concentration, attention and the ability to regulate behavior are functions that depend greatly on this area, which does not fully mature until around the age of 25. At 5 years old it is mature enough to inhibit behavior, and at 7 it is mature enough to be able to maintain attention for long periods of time.
What is hyperactivity in children?
In a very summary way, we are going to explain what ADHD is. It is the most common neurobiological disorder in childhood, with approximately 5% of the child population experiencing it. Is about a psychiatric condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity although they do not have to occur together since there are different subtypes of ADHD.
ADHD is usually diagnosed during the first years of primary education. The professionals in charge of diagnosis are neuropediatricians, psychologists and child psychiatrists. During the diagnosis, interviews with the parents and the infant, testimonies from the child’s teachers, as well as physical examinations and complementary tests will be necessary to rule out any other problems.
Between the diagnostic criteria There are some behaviors directly related to attention problems:
Treatment for ADHD must be approached in a coordinated manner, from different therapeutic disciplines Medications, prescribed by a psychiatrist or neurologist, are necessary, in addition to psychological and psycho-pedagogical treatment. In the specific case of ADHD, none of these treatments is unique nor can it replace the others.
The 3 differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive one
The differences between a nervous child and a hyperactive child are mainly three. It is worth mentioning that it is not always easy to distinguish between these children, since Both those without ADHD and those with ADHD may manifest symptoms such as inattention, irritability, sleep problems, and frequent crying Furthermore, and as we have mentioned before, all children are restless to a greater or lesser extent, so it is common for them to move excessively and act without thinking.
However, observation is key to deducing whether a child is simply nervous or, on the contrary, has hyperactivity. The following must be taken into account.
1. Cause of origin of problematic behaviors
The root cause of problematic behaviors is different between a nervous child and a hyperactive child.
In nervous people it is almost always possible to find a cause for their unrest, such as problems with schoolmates, the death of a loved one, a change in their environment, the arrival of a new sibling or fatigue due to problems sleeping, among others. In these cases, when the situation normalizes or what is causing it disappears, the child usually calms down.
Instead, In the case of hyperactive children, the origin of their behaviors is not apparent and. It is true that a situation could arise that causes nervousness but, when this is resolved, the child continues to be hyperactive.
Nervous children are able to concentrate for long periods of time when they really enjoy the activity In fact, their restlessness usually manifests itself only in certain contexts, such as during a subject at school that they do not like or at home having to do a task that they do not enjoy.
Instead, Children with ADHD show their symptoms in different contexts, presenting a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that interferes absolutely in all areas. His attention and concentration problems manifest themselves both at school and at home.
Many times, very restless children improve when clear behavioral guidelines are set for them. If the child in a public place does not stop running and jumping without us saying anything, it is not that the child is hyperactive, it is that he has not been taught how to behave. On the other hand, in cases where you do have this problem, behavioral guidelines are of little use without appropriate professional help.
Related article: “What is psychotherapy for disobedient adolescents?”
3. Time of onset of symptoms
The timing of symptoms is also an important difference that allows us to figure out if a child is hyperactive or simply nervous. Hyperactive children usually present symptoms from early childhood In fact, many parents often say that their children were already very restless babies, with sleep problems and that they have always been very irritable. There are even testimonies from mothers who claim that their child was already “moved” in the womb.
In nervous children, however, their restlessness usually appears after a triggering event, both gradually and suddenly. When nervousness is a characteristic of their personality, it fades as the boy or girl matures, acquiring greater control of their behavior. In the case of ADHD, the passage of time only aggravates the symptoms, with concentration and attention problems still present.
